Meet the 2011 - 2012 Board of Directors
Gary Chappell
After
writing two poems as a young man, Gary took a 35-year break to 'gather
material'. A few years ago he became 're-infected' with the need to write
poetry, and finds it has become an important passion. Born and raised in Prince
Albert, he moved with his family to Saskatoon in 2004. His poetry is published
in Spring, FreeFall, TRANSITION, and Leaf Press. He
currently serves as treasurer for the Saskatoon Writers' Coop and is a member of
the Obsessors poetry group.
Carmen Davies
Armed with an active imagination since she was young, Carmen’s creative
endeavours have led her down the paths of singing, acting, drawing and writing.
Preferring the genres of science fiction and fantasy, she is currently working
on a novel and several short stories. While she continues to wait for her chance
at five seconds of fame, her less creative moments usually involve answering the
phone and other not-so-glamorous secretarial duties.
Dayna Fesciuc
Dayna is a published poet and article writer who is currently at work on her first novel. As with everything else in life, Dayna has decided it's best to jump right in, and instead of working on a single novel she is constructing a trilogy based in Yellow Creek SK that deals with many of life's harshest, darkest fears and sad realities. When not writing, she spends time in her home art studio, where she paints, draws, sculpts and works on her photography. She finds her day job just as exciting, working as a Certified Personal Trainer at the YWCA, and instructing for St. John Ambulance First Aid/CPR/AED classes. Her energy and enthusiasm for all there is in life can be catching. She always looks forward to connecting and networking with others in the writing and art community.
Kristina Komendant
Kristina's love of letters and language have kept her pleasantly occupied for over twenty years. Her calligraphic and
contemporary styled letters find their way onto her handmade and hand-marbled papers, in medieval illumination artworks
,and in her favourite, single-edition Artists' Books. As a collector of verse, she is trying to find her own voice in
that medium.
Karen Mitchell
Karen was a founding board member of the Coop. She's back now after taking a break from board duties.
She is also the designer of the Coop website, and you can read her bio
here.
Jo Oliver
Jo started writing when she was 12. At 15 she wrote a poem that won a BBC
competition, though no prize money. Thereafter she put her writing life on the
back burner for a few decades to deal with working, training as a nurse, moving
to Canada, getting married, farming, and raising six kids. She took up her pen
again in the 1990s, and now lives and writes in Saskatoon. In fall 2011 Jo had a
poem published in Spring.
Dave Schultz
David Schultz is a writer/director with more than twenty years' service to the Canadian film industry. His directing credits include the feature films 45 RPM and Jet Boy.
Writing credits include screenplay adaptations of Joy Fielding’s New York Times best-selling novels Don't Cry Now and The Other Woman as well as
Daniel Kalla‘s Pandemic. Original screenplay credits include Silent Cradle, Question of Privilege, One of Our Own, Anthrax and Double Frame.
His documentaries include the six-part series Rebels - a Journey Underground and the History Television special The Longest Road,
co-produced with the National Film Board of Canada. Dave is currently working
on another movie.
Jeff Smith
Jeff recently obtained a doctorate in Computer Science at the University of Saskatchewan.
He lives in Saskatoon with his growing family (third daughter Tayna was born Feb. 29, 2008), and blogs, writes science fiction, consults, designs,
edits and teaches.
Jim Weseen
Jim is a former teacher and administrator who works as a Saskatoon freelance writer, editor and proofreader,
when he isn't deep in the solitude of his farmyard in the woods-- which, he says, is his cabin
at the lake without the lake (and the people, and the personal watercraft). His commercial writing has mostly been in the fields of education,
agriculture and biotechnology, but in the purely creative realm he writes occasional literary nonfiction and as well is the co-author
of Hello Sky, a children's picture book set along the Meewasin Trail, written with, and illustrated by, artist Wendy Weseen.
More recently (fall 2011) his creative nonfiction piece was published in
Spring.
Get Involved!
If you’d like to become more involved with the Coop community, but can’t
commit to regular meetings or take on any more long-term volunteer roles,
consider joining our flock of “active volunteers.”
"Active volunteers" are Coop members who want to help out once in a while,
at their own discretion.
If you’d like to join the team, email
coopinfo@writerscoop.org
When we need extra help we’ll give you a call. You can accept or decline the
request as you wish.
